NavIC – history of a domestic SatNav system and some of the problems in its development

NavIC consists of a constellation of seven satellites and a 24-hour ground station network. It is also called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). The eight satellites were put in service, but only seven are operational now.

In April, 2018 eighth satellite in the constellation was launched called IRNSS-1I, whereas the first, IRNSS-1A, was launched on 1 July 2013.

Potential Uses and Importance

• Both the standard positioning service, which is open to the public, and the restricted service, which may be encrypted for authorized users, such as the military, receive real-time information.
• India is one of the five countries which has its own navigation system. So, India is less dependent on other countries for navigation.
• It will help in the development of science and technology in India. It is important for our strategic needs and sovereignty.
• The government in April 2019 made it mandatory for all commercial vehicles across the country to be fitted with NavIC-based vehicle trackers as per the Nirbhaya case ruling.
• Additionally, Qualcomm Technologies has released NavIC-compatible mobile chipsets.
• Also, as reported in great detail earlier, one of its future uses is to share it with the SAARC countries which will improve the integration of the regional navigation system as well as a gesture of goodwill from India to the countries in the region.
• NavIC would need more satellites in orbits nearer the Earth than the current constellation if it is to be truly global, as is GPS.
• So NavIC can reach up to 1, 500 kilometers outside India’s borders, but we will need satellites in Medium Earth Orbit if our ships and planes go farther than that. We can keep adding MEO satellites and eventually go global.

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